Treatments

How you can finally defeat dry skin this winter

27 Jul 2018 9:50 AM |
Posted by

bh's Ellie Goodman

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Dry skin and winter (unfortunately) tend to go hand in hand. But when you're struggling with the winter sniffles and trying to avoid rain wreaking havoc on your hair, the last thing you want to deal with is dry and flaky skin.

Luckily, Tilly Barnett, owner and operator of No.13 The Beauty Avenue, is sharing her advice on how to defeat dry skin this winter.

Why do we get dry skin in winter?

There’s a whole STACK of reasons why our skin dries out each winter. “When the season changes so does our skin,” Tilly says. “Between the colder, drier air outside, the heating inside, hotter showers, an increase in coffee and tea and drinking less water all effects our skin.”

What can make dry skin worse in winter?

You know those icy mornings where the only thing that’ll wake you up is a nice and scalding-hot shower? We really hate to break it to you, but those showers aren't doing your skin any favours. Tilly says that even though the hot water is tempting in winter, it strips the moisture from your skin. So try not to make it too hot, beauties! Tilly also advises that you avoid soap. “Avoid using anything with soap as this will strip our skin of moisture,” Tilly says.

Is piling on moisturising products the answer?

Does anyone else panic at the first sight of dry skin? Do you then proceed to slather as many hydrating oils and moisturisers onto your skin as possible? Same. But as it turns out, that is not how you fix dry skin. Tilly says that if you’re using the right products, you shouldn’t have to stack them on. “It really depends on the product but you shouldn’t need loads to get the desired amount. A moisturiser is usually the size of a pea warmed up In the hands and pressed into the skin and a serum just 1-2 pumps under your moisturiser,” explains Tilly.

If you’re not already using a serum, winter is the time to do so. “Serums penetrate much deeper than creams so adding that extra hydration under your moisturiser really helps in the cooler months,” Tilly explains. If you're unsure of where to start with a serum, Tilly (in general) suggests using products with hyaluronic acid in winter because of its ability to hold moisture.

“It’s really important to keep exfoliating over winter too so we don’t get a build up of dead skin cells,” says Tilly. If you don’t remove dead skin cells it’s harder for your serums and moisturisers to get through and do their thing. “I like using lactic acid (AHA) which is both exfoliating and hydrating," Tilly says. She recommends the Elizabeth Arden Pro Gentle Facial Cleanser.

Can you alter your diet, too?

You sure can! “Make sure to drink plenty of water. It’s easy to forget in winter. I love adding Hydration Beauty Boost from The Beauty Chef into a glass of water to increase my water intake and get the great hydrating benefits it gives at a cellular level so we are looking after our skin both inside and out," says Tilly. "Avocados are great at the moment with healthy fats and oils it will give the skin some moisture from the inside. Try opting for herbal teas instead of black tea and coffee."

I am definitely guilty of hotter showers in winter! I’ve added a body oil into my routine to layer under my moisturiser. I’ve also switched to a cream cleanser. The Essano Rosehip cream cleanser is divine and feels so luxe!

Good to hear about avo benefits - I did not know! Drinking warm herbal tea has definitely helped keep me hydrated in winter.

My usually oily skin gets quite dry in winter. I know the hot showers aren't helping but they are soooo good!
I change my skincare in winter to more creamy and hydrating products and make sure I get enough water

As much as I love my hot shower's I need to cut back on that as that is what is making my back dry & irritated :( everything else mention here I've got correct :) not interested in drinking herbal tea's or having avocado- yuck.

We were on holidays last week & hubby gave me the gift of a massage. I have extremely dry skin, but after the massage my skin felt amazing. I asked the masseuse what oil she was using as the smells was beautiful. She said Rosehip with some other addition to it starting with the letter P (not Patchouli, it was something I'd never heard of before) Anyway, what I'm trying to say is my skin needs oil in winter so I'm shopping for a body oil today :)

A lightweight hydrating serum has really helped keep my skin hydrated in winter. My skin doesn't get too dry, but the skin under my nose gets dry and flaky easily because I rub it a lot due to the cold weather making my nose run.